Method and an apparatus for loading filled sacks or similar articles into endwise open containers or corresponding cargo spaces

Abstract

A loading apparatus adapted to be driven into a container and to receive articles such as sacks or the like one by one and to spread the sacks in horizontal cross roads by a spreading system so as to spread out the sacks in horizontal rows filling out a width of the container. The rows are consecutively transferred to a platform of a lift structure which is operable to bring single rows of sacks to be loaded upon each other up to a ceiling of the container, whereafter, the loading apparatus is retracted a distance corresponding to a length of the sacks, such that a new vertical layer of sack rows can be thereafter piled up. The container is thereby filled as effectively as possible in both the longitudinal, transverse, and height direction without any manual contribution by handling of normally heavy sacks or similar articles.

I claim: 
     
       1. A loading apparatus for consecutively loading received articles into open ended cargo containers, each said cargo container having a longitudinal axis, the loading apparatus comprising a receiver plate arranged transversely to said longitudinal axis of said cargo container, means for laterally displacing articles received on the receiver plate so as to build a transverse row of articles on the receiver plate, means for consecutively transferring said transverse row of articles from the receiver plate to respective unloading positions for successively building up a longitudinal row of transverse rows of piles of articles, the unloading being effected by retraction of article carrier plate means against an action of abutment means engaging respective rear ends of the articles so as to non-retractably hold the articles, a frame structure adapted to be rollingly supported on a support surface of the container, said frame structure having said receiver plate and an associated article displacing means arranged in a stationary position in a rearmost portion thereof, and a vertically movable lift plate arranged at a foremost portion thereof, said lift plate being vertically displaceable between a receiver position flush with the receiver plate such that the lift plate can receive an entire transverse row of articles from the receiver plate by actuation of a transferring means, and a plurality of unloading positions in respective different height positions, said lift plate further being forwardly displaceable from said frame structure in each of said plurality of unloading positions, and wherein vertically movable abutment means are provided so as to operatively engage the rear ends of the articles resting on the lift plate in the forwardly displaced position of the lift plate to thereby effect an unloading of the row of articles in response to a retraction of the lift plate. 
     
     
       2. A loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lift plate is mounted in a lift structure movable up and down in the frame structure, and wherein the abutment means are movably mounted on the lift structure so as to be displaceable between an inoperative position allowing for a passage of the articles when the lift plate is displaced forwardly and an operative position behind the rear end of the respective articles prepatory to the retraction of the lift plate. 
     
     
       3. A loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiver plate includes upstanding side wall portions for limiting a width of a transverse row of articles thereon to a width less than an internal width of the frame structure. 
     
     
       4. A loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inlet conveyor to the receiver plate comprises opposed edgeways arranged conveyor belts converging in a forward direction for calibrating a width of the articles. 
     
     
       5. A loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cargo spaces include standard containers, the frame structure is dimensioned for substantially filling out both a width and a height of the standard containers, and wherein the apparatus is introducible into said standard containers from an associated exterior carrier structure. 
     
     
       6. A loading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the exterior carrier structure includes a lift platform, and wherein control means are provided for ensuring a location of the platform in a height position corresponding to a height of a floor of the containers when the loading apparatus is respectively moved into and out of the containers. 
     
     
       7. A loading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lift plate is controlled in such a manner that, in a low position, the lift plate is slightly forwardly and downwardly inclined, while in a fully raised position, the lift plate is forwardly and upwardly inclined.